Positive guard for circular table-saws



, 1. 0. SMITH. POSITIVE GUARD FOR CIRCULAR TABLE SAWS,

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30. I919.

Patented I990 14,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTUR ATEYJRNEY IIIIIIII IIIIII IF] MTNESSES J. D. SMlTH.

PQSIHVE GUARD FOR CIRCULAR'TABLE SAWS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, I919.

Patented Dec. 14,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH DE'V'LIN SMITH, OF MABSHALLTOWN, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF Tb GEORGE B. BEESQ'N, OF MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA.

POSITIVE GUARD FOR CIRCULAR TABLE-SAWS.

Application filed June 30,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrrr DnvLIN SMITH, a citizen of the United Eatates of America, residing at No. 108 North 13th street, in Marshalltown, in the county of Marshall and State of Iowa, have invented a new and Positive Guard for Circular Tablefiaws.

The obj ect of this invention is to provide an improved construction for a positive guard for circular table saws, which guard protects the operator and persons working around the saw, by means of a heavy wire inclosure secured to the table in front of the operator, and a hand feeder connected to said inclosure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a guard casing adapted to fit over the projecting portions of the saw andprevent accidental contact with the saw and also prevents particles of wood or metal from flying from said sawduring the sawing operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for mounting and supporting a guard casing relative to a saw so that it may be raised automatically when a strip of wood is fed to the saw a sufficient distance to permit the passage of said strip, and will settle back into normal position when the strip has passed.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for supporting a guard casing relative to a saw whereby said casing may be raised at times clear of said saw and also whereby pressure may be applied by the operator upon said casing to hold a strip of wood to the table.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for a device for feeding strips of wood to the saw.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which 1 Figure 1 is a side elevationshowing my improved guard in position for practical use. Fig. 2 is an elevation at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detailed side elevation of the feeding device, Fig. 1 a plan of Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 an end elevation, on an enlarged scale, illustrating my improved feeding device. Fig. 6 is a detailed elevation onan enlarged scale illustrating means for sup- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 307,545.

porting and controlling the guard casing. F 1g. 7 is a detailed side elevation of the guard casing, 011 an enlarged scale from the 'slde opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.

In the construction and mounting of the device as shown the numeral 14 designates a saw table in which a circular saw such as 15 is mounted for rotation. A rectangular frame 1.6 is formed of angle or other suitable metal bars and is covered by wire mesh 17. The frame 16 is supported at one side by a bracket 18 or leg, adapted to be secured to the forward margin of the table 14 by means of a screw or bolt 12. A leg or bracket 19 is secured to the opposite side of the frame 16 and said leg or bracket 19 is secured at its lower end by means of a screw or bolt 11 to the table 14. By this means the screen frame 16 is supported above and substantially in the vertical plane of the forward margin of the table 14 and between the saw 15 and the position ordinarily occupied by an operator. The legor bracket 19 preferably is offset laterally between its ends to permit the passage over the table and toward the saw of relatively wide boards at times. The lower margin of the screened frame 16 is spaced above the table a distance to permit the passage of boards or timbers toward the saw; and said screen frame provides "a protection for the head and upper portions of the body of the operator. The frame 16 is formed with a notch or recess 20 extending upwardly a suitable distance from its lower margin in the vertical plane of the saw 15.

A guard casing 1 is provided and said casing is of segmental form and is adapted to fit over the portion of the saw 15 projecting above the table 14, and to rest normally at its lower margin on said table, in which position it is spaced from and concentrally of said saw. A bar 21 is fixed near one end to the top of the frame 16 and extends rearwardly therefrom above the table and saw and in the vertical plane of the saw. Rods 8, preferably two in number, are fixed at their lower ends to the top of the guard casing 1 and extend upwardly and telescope within tubes 9 fixed to and depending from the bar 21, andsaid rods are adapted for vertical sliding movement within the tubes. A stem 22 is fixed at its lower end to the con tral portion of the guard casingl, between the rods 8, and said stem extends upwardly and through a slide bearing 23 formed in the bar 21. A cord 24: is fixed at one end to the stem 22, passes upwardly and over a pulley 25 suspended from the beam 21 and has a weight 2 secured to its other end, and said weight substantially counterbalances the guard casing 1. Braces 7 are fixed to and connect the tubes 9 and the frame 16 and serve to steady and brace said tubes.

A bracket 26 is formed on and rises from the central portion of the bar 21 and a bellcranklever 27 is fulcrumed on said bracket and has one end pivotally connected by means .of a link 28 to the upper end of the stem 22. .A second bracket 29 rises from the bar 21 in front of the bracket 26, and is of considerably less height than said bracket 26. A bell-crank lever 30 is fulcrumed on the bracket 29 and has its short arm pivotally connectedby means of a link 31 to the outer arm of the bell-crank lever 27. The lower arm of the bell-crank lever 27 extends forwardly above the bar 21 to a point beyond the frame 16 and-a handle lever 4; is fulcrumed between its ends on the projecting end portion of said bell-crank lever 27 and the handle lever 4L preferably is bent or turned laterally at its lower end to provide a grip for the hand of the operator. A link 32 has one end pivotally connected to one end of thehandle lever 1 and extends rearwardly and has its opposite end pivoted to a pawl 5 pivotally carried by a bell-crank lever 30 near the bracket 29. The bracket 29 is formed with a notch 33 near its upper end adapted to be engaged at times by the pawl 5 to hold the bell-crank lever 30, and other members, in an adjusted position. A coil spring v6 is fixed at one end to the up per armof the handle lever 4 and at its opposite end to the bell-crank lever 30. It is the function of the spring 6 to hold the pawl 5 in the notch33 when so placed manually.

A feeding device is suspended in the notch or recess 20 of the screened frame 16 by means of curved links 3 1 pivoted at their upperendsin the upper portion of the notch or recess. The lower ends of the links 34; are pivoted to the rear portion of the body 10 of the feeding device. The feeding device is provided with a handle 36 which extends forwardly from the body portion thereof' A gripping plate 13 overlies and isfixed to a portion of the body 10 of the feeding device and projects beyond the rear end of said body. The plate 13 is .bent or pressed downwardly at the rear portion to form teeth 37 adapted .to bite into and grip alboaldorother timber. The feeding device is employed .to engage and move toward the saw strips, boards ortimbers so that the operator feed them to the saw Without causing his hands to come near to the saw. Toaec'omplish this the'strip or board to be sawed .islfii-d on the table 14 and the feeding device is moved to a position behind it, the plate 13 overlying the marginal portion of the strip or board; and then the feeding device is moved toward the saw by pressure on the handle 36 to slide the strip or board upon the table into engagement with the saw. The teeth 37 may be caused to bite into the wood whereby the strip or board may be withdrawn as well as fed toward the saw. The body 10 of the feeding device is formed at its inner end with an end opening notch or slot 38 in line with the saw 15'so that the inner margin of the device may be moved to a point beyond the periphery of the saw without engaging it. stop device 39 is mounted on the handle portion 36 of the feeding device and is formed with a longitudinal slot 410 through which it is secured by a screw or bolt 41 to the said handle. The stop device 39 is turned upwardly at its inner end and is formed with laterally extending stop lugs 42, 43 adapted to engage the frame 16 on opposite sides of the notch or recess 20 therein to limit movement of the device toward the saw 15. The stop device 39, because of the slot 10, may be adjusted longitudinally of the feeding device, to adapt it for use with saws of varying diameters. The stop devices may be adjusted on the feeding device in such manner that the feeding device may be employed to feed articles to the saw and to permit it to travel just far enough to cut off without striking the saw. The feeding device may at times be moved to inoperative positionand is held above the notch or recess 20 and in engagement with the upper portion of the screen 17 as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The guard casing 1 is formed at its forward or initial end with an upwardly inclined lip 35 and at its opposite end with a more sharply inclined terminal lip or tail 14. Vhen a board, strip or timber is fed toward the saw, as by means just described, the rear end of said board first on gages the undersurface of the inclined lip 35 and in its movement toward the saw raises the guard casing 1 by such contact a distance suflicient to permit the board to pass beneath it into engagement with the saw. In such movement the rods 8 slide upward within the tubes 9; and the raising of the casing is facilitated by the counterbah ancing influence of the weight 2. Then. the board has passed beyond the saw the guard casing 1 is permitted to return gradually to its position of rest on the table by engage ment of the inclined tail piece 474: with the opposite margin of the board. lVhile the board or strip is passing beneath the guard 12-5 casing 1, said casing rests on and applies pressure to said board or strip, holds it firmly to the table and thus insures a clean cut. The normal pressure thus applied may be increased if desired .by manual pressure exerted by the operator downwardly on the handle lever 4, thus applying downward pressure on the stem 22 through the bellcrank lever 30, link 31, bell-crank lever 27 and link 28.

At times it is desirable to raise the guard casing 1 a sufiicient distance to clear the table and the saw 15 and to hold it in such desired position for a time. To accomplish this the operator oscillates the bell-crank lever 30 by upward pressure on the handle lever 4, thus oscillating the bell-crank lever 27 through the link 31 and applying upward draft on the stem 22 through the link 28, thus lifting the guard casing. This operation is carried to a point where the pawl 5 may enter the notch 33 and such engagement is effected by action of the spring 6; and such engagement operates to hold the bell-crank lever 30 in its adjusted position and thus maintain the guard casing 1 in elevated position. When it is desired to lower the guard casing to its normal operative position the operator oscil lates the handle lever 4 slightly against the action of the spring 6 to withdraw the pawl 5 from the notch 33 after which the guard casing may descend by gravity or through downward pressure applied to the handle 4 or both.

At times it is desirable to remove all of the guard devices from their normal positions to permit unimpeded access to the saw or table. To accomplish this the guard casing 1 is raised to elevated position as above described; the feeder 10 is hung up in inoperative position, the bolt or screw 11 is removed, and th'e entire device is swung around to one side, pivoting on the screw or bolt 12.

The guard casing 1 is formed on one side with a cut-away portion or longitudinal slot 45 adjacent its lower margin and extending from end to end thereof. It is the function of the slot or cut-away portion 45 to permit adjustment of the saw gauge to a position very near to the saw 15 with out contacting with the guard casing.

I claim as my invention- 1. A guard for circular table saws, comprising in combination with a table and saw mounted therein, a screened frame mounted adjacent one margin of said table, a supporting bar carried by the upper portion of said frame and projecting above said table and saw, a guard casing adapted to fit over the portion of the saw projecting above the table, means for suspending said guard casing from said supporting bar, and means carried by said supporting bar for raising and lowering said guard casing. 4

2. A guard for circular table saws, comprising in combination with a table and saw mounted therein, a screened frame mounted adjacent one margin of said table, a supporting bar carried by the upper portion of said frame and projecting above said table and saw, a guard casing adapted to fit over the portion of the saw projecting above the table, means for suspending said guard casing from said supporting bar, and means carried by said supporting bar for raising and lowering said guard casing, and for applying downward pressure thereto manually.

3. A guard for circular table saws, comprising in combination with a table and saw mounted therein, a screened frame mounted adjacent one margin of said table, a supporting bar carried by the upper portion of said frame and projecting above said table and saw, a guard casing adapted to fit over the portion of the saw projecting above the table, means for suspending said guardcasing from said supporting bar, and means carried by said supporting bar for raising and lowering said guard casing, together with means for supporting said guard casing in elevated position clear of said saw.

1. A guard for circular table saws, comprising in combination with a table and saw mounted therein, a screened frame mounted adjacent one margin of said table, a supporting bar carried by the upper portion of said frame and projecting above said table and saw, a guard casing adapted to fit over the portion of the saw projecting above the table, means for suspending said guard casing from said supporting bar, and means carried by said supporting bar for raising and lowering said guard casing, together with means for supporting said guard casing in elevated position clear of said saw, said screened frame mounted to be moved through an are at times to carry all of said members to a position spaced laterally from said saw.

5. A guard for circular table saws comprising a frame adapted to be mounted on a saw table, a supporting barcarried by the upper portion of said frame and projecting above said table and the saw therein, a guard casing adapted to fit over said saw, sliding supports connecting said guard casing to said supporting bar, spaced bell-crank levers fulcrumed on said supporting bar, pivotal connections between one of said bellcrank levers and the sliding supports, and means "for manually oscillating the other bell-crank lever.

6. A guard for circular table saws comprising aframe adapted to be mounted on a saw table, a supporting bar carried by the u 31361 portion of said frame and projecting above said table and the saw therein, a guard casing adapted to fit over said saw, sliding supports connecting said guard casing to said supporting bar, spaced bell-crank levers fulcrumed on said supporting bar, pivotal connections between one of said bell-crank levers and the sliding supports, and means for manually oscillating the other bell-crank lever, together with means for holding the latter bell-crank lever in adjusted position whereby the guard casing is supported in elevation clear of the saw.

7. -A guard for 'circular table saws comprising a frame adapted to be mounted on a saw table, a supporting bar carried by the upper portion of said frame and proj ecting above said table and the saw therein, a guard casing adapted to fit over said saw, sliding supports connecting said. guard casing to said supporting bar,.spaced bellcrank levers fulcrumed on said supporting bar, pivotal connections between one of said bell-crank levers and the sliding supports, and means for manually oscillating the other'bell-crank lever,together with spring pressed means for holding the latter bellcrank lever in adjusted position whereby the guard casing is supported in elevated position clear of the saw.

8. A guard for circular table saws comprising a frame adapted to be mounted on a saw table, a supporting bar carried by the upper portion of said frame and projecting above said table and the saw therein, a guard casing adapted to fit over said saw, sliding supports connecting said guard casing to said supporting bar, spaced bellcrank levers fulcrumed on said supporting bar, pivotal connections betweenone of said bell-crank levers and the sliding supports, and a handle lever fulcrumed in the outer end of the other bell-crank lever.

9. A guard for circular table saws COHl prising a frame adapted to be mounted on a saw table, a supporting bar carried by the upper portion of said frame and projecting above said table and the saw therein, a guard casing adapted to fit over said saw, sliding supports connecting said guard casing to said supporting bar, spaced bellcrank levers fulcrumed on said supporting bar, pivotal connections between one of said bell-crank levers and the sliding supports, a handle lever fulcrumed in the outer end of the other bell-crank lever, a pawl pivoted on the last named bell-crank lever, a link pivotally connecting said handle lever and pawl, said pawl being adapted to engage a notch in said supporting bar to hold said bell-crank lever in an adjusted position, and a yielding pressure device tending to move pro ecting beyond the other end pOltlOIl Gf said body portion.

12. In a guard for circular table saws, a feeding device comprising a body portion, a handle on one end of said body portion and a plate overlying and projecting beyond the other end portion of said body portion, the projecting portion of said plate being formed with teeth on its lower surface.

13. In a guard for circular table saws a support formed with a recess in its lower side, a feeding device, and links pivoted at their upper ends within said --recess and at their lower ends to said feeding device, whereby-said feedingdeviee is adapted for swinging movement beneath said support.

14. In a guard for circular table saws the combination with a saw table of a screened frame connected thereto and supported above one margin thereof, said frame being formed with a recess extending upwardly from its lower margin in line with the saw in said table, a feeding device suspended from said frame and adapted for swinging movement relative to said saw, and a stop earned by said feeding device and adapted for engagement with side margins of said recess.

15. In a guard for circular table saws the combination with a saw table of a screened frame connected thereto and supported above one margin thereof, said frame being formed with a recess extending upwardly from its lower margin in line with the saw in said table, a feeding device suspended from said frame and adapted for swinging movement relative to said saw, and a stop adjustably carried by said feeding device and adapted for engagement with side margins of-said recess. I

' JOSEPH DEV'LIN SMITH. 

